Boiler washing and filling system



Patented July 4, 1933 FRANK Vf. MILLER; OFLOHICAGO, ILLINOIS BKOILR WASHING AND FILLING SYSTEM Application filed Novemherl, 1928. Serial No. 319,628.

as washout water. Y

It is highlydesirable in such a system to conserve the maximum of the heat umts 1n the blow-oflproducts and to economize in general from the thermo-dynamic point oi view.

The primary object ofthis invention is accordingly'to provide a system of the above type in which a high thermal eiiiciency is obtained.

' Other and further objects of this inven-V tion-will be apparent as the same becomes better understood from an examination of the specification and'claims in connection withv the accompanying drawing wherein is shown a" combination washout water storage tank V and refill water storage tank for boilers togeth'erwith other parts of a locomotive boiler washing'and filling system embodying this invention. i

Referring to the drawingmore particularly, reterencecharacter 1 designates a prefer-l' ably vertical cylindrical tank provided'with afbottom 2 an'drhaving an open upper'endf3. A-conically shaped roof is disposed over the top ofthe tank andprovided with a central opening 5 in its apex in which is positioned a-condenser G which* will be more particularly described hereinafter.

Thetank 1 is divided by a cylindrical partition 7 concentric with the tank into an outer annular compartment 8 for washout water and an inner cylindrical compartment 9 for refill watera Between the inner wall o' the tank and the partition 7 near the upper end of the tank there is provided a pair of vertically spaced struts 11 and 12 between which is mounted a separator 13 adapted to receive blow-off products from boilers of locomotives through a blow-off line 14. The separator 13 is of a well known type and is adapted to deliver the separated steam upwardly through a pipe 15 to a preheater or condenser 16 in which the steam is condensed by cold water admitted to the condenser in regulated qualitities. A thermostatically operated valve 17 of a known type is connected with the branch 18 of the cold water line which delivers cold water to the preheater or condenser 16 and ishgoverned by the steam passing' through the pipe 15 for controlling the admission of water to said preheater in a predetermined proportion to the amount of steam delivered thereto. In the event that no steam is being delivered through the pipe 15 to the preheatl er and consequently no water is delivered through the branch 18 to said heater, vwater may be delivered to the compartment 9 automatically when thel water level drops below a predetermined level 19 by means of an automatic float controlled valve 21 in another r branch 22 leading from the cold water line.

Sludge from the water blown ofii'from the boilers and received in the separator 13 is discharged therefrom through a pipe 23 to the sewer and the water from the boilers thus clarified is delivered through a pipe 24 to the washout water compartment 8 from which it is withdrawn through a pipe 25 `anddelivered by the washout pump 26 to the boiler washout main 27 for use inwash'ing out the boilers of the locomotives. A branch 28 of the cold water line is adapted to deliver water to the pipe 25 through the intermediary of a thermostatically controlled tempering valve 29 which is adapted to deliver water to said pipe whenever the temperature of the water therein exceeds a predeterminedv amount for keeping the water delivered to the washout main at a temperature low enough to be conveniently used in washing out the boilers.

Water from therellcompartment 9 is withdrawn through a pipe 31'and delivered bythe refill Vpump 32 tothe boiler refill main 33. A return circulating pipe 34 is connected with the end ol" this main and the water therein is kept in continuous circulation in this pipe by the continuously operating refill pump. The refill circulating line delivers the water to the condenser 6 wherein most of the steam arising from the tank 1 beneath the roof or cover 4 is condensed and returned to the refill storage compartment 9 without the loss of heat units which might otherwise escape. For the purpose of promoting said flow of steam said condenser 6 is provided ffii. uu

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with a vent 35 which, as shown, isepen to the atmosphere at all times.

The separator 13 and the preheater or condenser 16 are either within the tank l or beneath the cover thereof thus preventing loss by radiation of heat units from these elements of the system.

The refill water in the compartment 9 which it is desirable to keep at as high a temperature as possible, is heat insulated by the surrounding washout water, since the refill tank is located centrally within the tank l and surrounded by the storage compartment for the washout water which is also at a relatively high temperature.

It will be manifest that the apparatus including the washout and refill tanks, the separator and the condensers, are all compactly arranged within the confines of the washout tank and its cover `or roof soV that they occupy a minimum of space. Furthermore the separator and the eondensers are all inclosed and protected so that the heat loss is reduced to av minimum, and in addition, the high temperature water in the refill tank is heat insulated from the atmosphere by the water in the surrounding washout tank. The surplus steam rising uncondensed from the tanks and particularly from the relill tank is condensed by the circulating water from the refill line and returned to the refill tank. The whole assembly is compact, can be economically manufactured, and is highly efficient in operation.

Other advantages and the operation of the system will be apparent without further description.

I am aware that many changes may be made without departing from the principles of this invention and I do not therefore Wish to be limited to the details shown or described.

I claim:

1. In a boiler washing and refilling system the combination of a washout tank, a refill tank disposed within the washout tank in position to be surrounded at its sides by the washout water, a cover for both of said tanks, a condenser carried by said cover for receiving the steam rising uncondensed above said tanks, a refill line connected to receive water from the refill tank, and a return circulating line for delivering Water from the refill line to said condenser whereby said uncondensed steam is condensed and delivered to the refill tank, the sole vent to the at-mosphere for the tank being provided in the top of said condenser, said vent being permanently opened to the atmosphere.

2. In a boiler washing and refilling system, the combination ofa washout tank, a refill tank disposed entirely within said washout tank, a cover for said tanks, a centrifugal separator for blow-oft products disposed above the washout tank and arranged to discharge clarified water thereinto, a condenser located beneath said cover, means for delivering blow-off steam from said separator to said condenser, means controlled by the blow-off steam for delivering condensing water to said condenser, a second condenser adapted to receive the steam rising uncondensed into the space beneath said cover, and a refill circulating line for delivering refill water to said last named condenser.

3. In a boiler washing and refilling system, the combination with a washout tank, a refill tank disposed entirely within said washout tank, a cover disposed over said tanks, a separator and a condenser disposed beneath said cover, means for delivering blow-off products to said separator, means for delivering blow-oit water from the separator to the washout tank, means for dclivering blow-off steam from said separator to said condenser, and means controlled by said blow-oil' steam for delivering condensing water to said condenser.

fi.v In a boiler washing and refilling system, the combination of a washout tank, a refill tank immersed in said washout tank, a cover disposed over said tanks, a plurality of condensers beneath said cover, means for delivering blow-off steam to one of said condensers, means for delivering condensing water to said condenser, means for delivering the condensate from said condenser to the refill tank, said second eondenserbeing adapted to receive steam rising uncondensed above said tanks, a refill line, and means for delivering water from said line to said second condenser for condensing purposes.

In Witness of the foregoing I affix my signature.

FRANK W. MILLER. 

